Thick smoke could be seen for miles after an empty factory in Evercreech caught fire this afternoon.

Local residents took to community groups warning people to keep their doors and windows closed after smoke and flames started billowing from the on the former Greencore factory site on the B3081 Prestleigh Road.

The factory closed in October 2018 at a cost of around 400 jobs and the site has been identified within the council's Local Plan for employment use. The site owners are aware of the incident.

People in the area reported huge amounts of smoke and also bits of metal flying up in the air and urged others to stay away.

Fire crews are currently at the scene, confirming they received multiple calls.

"We were called to the incident at 13.20 at a disused factory in Evercreech," a spokesperson confirmed.

"We presently have five fire engines dealing with the fire the police are also in attendance. We are using two breathing apparatus and two main hose reel jets."

Prestleigh Road has been closed in both directions, and police are on the scene.

It is the second time the factory has caught fire since it closed - in June 2021 it was deliberately set alight, destroying a pre-fab building.

Councillor Barry O'Leary, deputy chair of Mendip District Council confirmed that he has been in contact with the site owners, asking for information about how the site can be proactively managed in the future, and their plans for it going forward.